At the European Council meeting, Lithuania’s President raised the issue of closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

2008.03.14

Thursday, March 13, Brussels – As part of his working visit to Brussels, President of the Republic of Lithuania attends the European Council meeting. Issues discussed in the first session included energy and climate change.

Lithuania’s President underlined that Lithuania supports European Commission’s proposals concerning the combat against climate change, but he also drew attention that situation would be complicated after 2010. „Once the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is closed, other power plants in Lithuania will have nothing but to use more polluting fuels’, said Valdas Adamkus.

President pointed to the vulnerability of Lithuania and the whole Baltic region. According to President Adamkus, Lithuania will become totally dependent on Russian gas, as the bridge to the European Union will not have been constructed yet. President stressed the necessity to discuss concrete measures and instruments to prevent the reoccurrence of the Druzhba oil pipeline issue, when even European efforts did not help to convince Russia to renew oil supply.

President Adamkus stated that closure of the existing power plant and construction of a new modern one is an increasingly important issue of Lithuania’s national security.

According to President, the European Union must accelerate the construction of connections to its isolated energy markets. President Adamkus noted that first preparatory steps have already been taken to construct Lithuanian-Polish and Lithuanian-Swedish electricity interconnections. President also noted however that decisions are still needed on other necessary projects, particularly in gas sector.